MMDA eyes P4.5-M monthly savings with solar traffic lights

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) expects to save up to P4.5 million a month with the use of solar-powered traffic lights but admitted the savings will not come immediately. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said on Thursday this amount represents half of the P9 million the MMDA spends monthly to run traffic lights and street lights in major thoroughfares. “Ang tingin ko more than 50 percent (na savings) ito. Ang mahal lang dito ag solar panel dahil initial investment. In the long run halos mahigit 50 percent ang ikatitipid nito (I expect we will eventually realize savings of up to 50 percent. But we will have to spend a large amount at first on the solar panels)," Tolentino said in an interview on dwIZ radio on Thursday. While he did not give an estimate on how much the solar panels will cost, Tolentino said they will entail a huge amount, at least initially. He said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is now working out the technology for the proposed solar-powered traffic light system. On the other hand, Tolentino said another concern for the new solar-powered traffic lights is how to make the transition from conventional power to solar power. “Di namin alam kung pupuwedeng ang teknolohiya na yan mapag-connect at mabago ang signals kung may depekto sa pamamagitan ng solar power (At this time we do not know if the technology the present traffic light system uses is compatible with the new equipment that will use solar power)," he said. “Ang ating pakay makatipid sa pagbayad ng utility bills (Our goal here is to save on utility bills)," he added. Meanwhile, Tolentino said they are planning to acquire sonar equipment to locate victims of potential quakes. He cited studies by the Japan International Cooperation Agency that many areas in Metro Manila are prone to quakes. However, he said the MMDA will give priority to local technologies for this. “Di natin kaya mag-rely lang sa K-9, kailangan natin ng sonar systems. Wala tayong ganoong kagamitan ngayon (We cannot rely on K-9 units to find quake victims. We will need sonar systems, which we do not have at present)," he said. – VVP, GMA News